### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term κειρία (keiría, `{{G2750}}`) refers specifically to a "swathe" or "winding-sheet," most commonly understood as "graveclothes." Its core meaning denotes strips of cloth used for binding or wrapping a body, particularly in preparation for burial. The note of "uncertain affinity" in its etymology suggests that its linguistic roots are not clearly traceable or that it may be a relatively specialized term within the Greek lexicon. Unlike more general terms for cloth, κειρία carries the specific connotation of funerary use, emphasizing its function in the ritual of internment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term κειρία (`{{G2750}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in the Gospel of John:
* **[[John 11:44]]**: "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with graveclothes (κειρίαις), and his face wrapped with a cloth (σουδαρίῳ). Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"
This singular occurrence is profoundly significant, as it describes the physical state of Lazarus upon being raised from the dead by Jesus. The presence of the κειρίαι unequivocally confirms the reality of Lazarus's death and burial. He was not merely unconscious or in a coma; he had undergone the full process of funerary preparation, his limbs meticulously bound with these strips of cloth. The command from Jesus, "Unbind him, and let him go," highlights that while divine power had restored life, human agency was required to remove the physical impediments of death, allowing Lazarus to move freely in his resurrected state. The graveclothes serve as a stark visual testament to the power of Christ over the dominion of death.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related terms and concepts shed further light on κειρία (`{{G2750}}`):
* **`{{G3608}}` ὀθόνια (othonia)**: "Linen cloths" or "strips of linen." These are also associated with burial, notably found in the accounts of Jesus's empty tomb ([[John 19:40]], [[John 20:5]], [[John 20:6]]). While κειρία emphasizes the *binding* aspect, ὀθόνια refers to the material itself, often in strips.
* **`{{G4676}}` σουδάριον (soudarion)**: "Handkerchief" or "face cloth." This term appears alongside κειρία in [[John 11:44]], where Lazarus's face was wrapped with it. It also appears in the context of Jesus's burial clothes ([[John 20:7]]), where it was "rolled up in a place by itself."
* **`{{G3419}}` μνημεῖον (mnemeion)**: "Tomb" or "grave." This provides the setting for the use of graveclothes, underscoring the context of death and burial.
* **`{{G1779}}` ἐνταφιάζω (entaphiazō)**: "To prepare for burial." This verb describes the action of preparing a body for interment, which would include the application of κειρίαι.
The concept of death and resurrection is central to the biblical narrative, and κειρία serves as a tangible symbol within this profound theological framework.
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of κειρία (`{{G2750}}`) in the raising of Lazarus carries profound theological weight.
1. **Affirmation of Death's Reality**: The graveclothes confirm that Lazarus was truly dead, not merely unconscious. This underscores the magnitude of Jesus's miracle, demonstrating His absolute power over the finality of death.
2. **Symbol of Bondage and Liberation**: Lazarus emerges from the tomb "bound" by the graveclothes. This physical state of being bound symbolizes the spiritual bondage that death imposes. Jesus's command, "Unbind him, and let him go," is a powerful metaphor for liberation. While Christ provides the new life, there is a subsequent process of shedding the remnants of the old life, the "graveclothes" of sin and death, that believers must undergo.
3. **Contrast with Christ's Resurrection**: A subtle but significant contrast exists between Lazarus's emergence and Jesus's own resurrection. While Lazarus needed to be unbound, the accounts of Jesus's empty tomb (e.g., [[John 20:5-7]]) describe the graveclothes (ὀθόνια and σουδάριον) lying neatly folded or undisturbed, indicating that Jesus passed *through* them, leaving them as a testament to His complete triumph over death, rather than being freed *from* them. Lazarus's resurrection was a return to mortal life, requiring the removal of death's physical trappings, whereas Christ's resurrection was a transformation into an immortal, glorified state that transcended such limitations.
4. **The Call to Spiritual Freedom**: The narrative can be interpreted allegorically. Just as Lazarus was called to shed his graveclothes to walk in new life, believers are called to shed the "old self" and its practices (cf. [[Colossians 3:9-10]], [[Ephesians 4:22-24]]) to walk in the freedom of Christ. The graveclothes, though testifying to a past reality, must not hinder future movement.
### Summary
The Greek term κειρία (`{{G2750}}`), meaning "graveclothes" or "winding-sheet," appears uniquely in [[John 11:44]] to describe the bindings on Lazarus's body after his resurrection. This single occurrence is crucial, serving as a powerful testament to the reality of Lazarus's death and burial, thereby magnifying the miraculous nature of Jesus's power over death. The command to "unbind him" signifies a necessary act of liberation from the physical remnants of death, offering a profound theological parallel to the spiritual freedom believers experience in Christ. Furthermore, the contrast with Jesus's own resurrection, where His graveclothes were left behind, subtly highlights the difference between a return to mortal life and a complete, transcendent victory over death itself. The κειρίαι thus embody both the stark reality of death and the liberating power of divine intervention.
TRV